Windscreens play a vital role in your car. Not only do they protect you from the elements and changeable British weather, but they also form an important part of your car’s structural integrity. For this reason, a damaged windscreen is more than just an inconvenience.
What causes damage to windscreens?
Windscreens can be chipped or cracked thanks to stones, pebbles or other road debris being thrown up while you are driving along. Debris may also hit your car during the high winds of a storm, causing damage when it hits your windscreen.
Sudden changes in temperature can also be to blame as it can cause the glass to rapidly expand or contract. If you’ve left your car in the sun on a very hot day, you may come back to find a crack. Similarly, tipping boiling water over your windscreen to remove the ice over winter will also increase your risk of damage.
Another chief cause of damage is, of course, collisions. This could be with another car, an animal or other object. For instance, you could be hit by a stray golf ball while cruising past a neighbouring golf club.
What should I do if my windscreen is damaged?
A chipped windscreen can be easy to repair, and it is best to do so as soon as a chip appears. This is because chips can soon develop into cracks, which will make replacement necessary. Chips can also obscure your view, which can affect your driving safety.
If you have comprehensive Car Insurance, windscreen repair and replacement may be covered by your insurer.
If it is covered, your first port of call is your insurance broker, if you have one. If you’re one of our customers, you can get in touch with our Windscreen Claim Team.
When you call us, we’ll quickly confirm your details and those of your vehicle. We’ll also ask where your car is located and which window needs replacing. Finally, we’ll take the details, including when it is best to get in contact with you.
We will then either put you in direct contact with the windscreen company so that you can arrange a convenient time for the repair/replacement to happen, or we can arrange an appointment on your behalf.
Will I need to pay an excess for repairing my windscreen?
This will depend on your insurer. Some insurers have no excess for windscreen repairs, but if they do, this will range up to £50.
If your windscreen needs replacing, you can expect to pay an excess of £50-£150.
Will windscreen damage affect my no claims bonus?
Many insurers will not count windscreen repair or replacement when calculating your no claims bonus. However, this will depend on your insurer, so please check your insurance policy for details.
Want to find out more about Car Insurance?
If you want to find out more about what Car Insurance we can offer, get in touch with us today on 0800 917 2274.
And if you need to make a windscreen claim, call our team on 0800 917 2274.
